Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2003 11:45:22 -0800
From: Steve Thomas <s4d@hotmail.com>
Subject: Leonards-Lust, Chapter 11

This is a fictional story. It is based on many experiences and fantasies
of the authors. If you are really into graphic sex, it may not satisfy
your purpose for coming here. If you like to hear of real love and real
teen angst, with a little sex thrown in, you are in the right place.
There may be some amount of graphic sex between males. If this is
objectionable to you, or you are legally too young to be here, you are
cordially invited to press your back button.

Cast of Characters:

Leonard Kirk Harston (Lenny)

Lawrence Olivier Goodwin (Rennie)

Mrs. Harston, Lenny's mom

Mr. Harston, Lenny's dad

Mr. Goodwin, Rennie's dad

Mrs. Goodwin, Rennie's mom

Joy -- Rennie's older sister

Jennifer -- Rennie's younger sister

Bobby -- Joy's husband

Seth -- Lenny's friend

Luke -- Seth's lover

Chris -- Seth's Brother

Criag -- Chris's lover

Jake Smith -- Seth and Chris's cousin.

Colin -- Jake's husband & Bobby's brother

Morty -- Rennie's Cousin

Ursula -- Jake & Colins daughter

Uri -- Jake and Colin's son

Carrie -- Jake's sister

Uncle Jake -- Jake's dad

Aunt Lindy -- Jake's mom

Renate -- The Goodwin's housekeeper

Etta -- the Smith's housekeeper

From Chapter 10:

"So why don't you stop?" I asked Bobby.

"I don't know. I don't plan these things. They just happen -- in the
moment, so to speak."

"Why don't you get help?"

"You mean a shrink?"

"Yup! Your rich now, Bobby! You can afford the best. And you don't have
to worry about publicity like the other clients that go to those high
priced guys."

"I don't know."

"What?"

"I -- just -- don't know. I've never considered it before."

"I think you should. I think they can help you." I may have been a bit
naïve. But I had not too long ago taken a psych class, and I was
convinced.

"Okay."

"What?"

"Okay -- I'll do it. You're right."

Wow! I repressed the urge to spit on my hand and polish it on my shirt!
Did I do that?? Cool!

"Bob -- take Ren with you?"

"Yeah -- good idea. I'll try."

 

 

Chapter 11

Bobby really took me seriously, which really surprised me. Somehow, I
don't expect someone that old to take advice from a 19-year-old.
Especially one so screwed up as I - - -feel! And he got Ren to go with
him. I don't know how much therapy he got for his sexual addiction -- if
that's what it is. But the shrink seemed to be helping them with their
despair from losing their family.

One happy result maybe was that Rennie didn't mess with drugs after that
one time. He is back to his sweet self. He is not so emotional as often.
He told me that he and Bobby had a couple screaming sessions -- well,
exercises -- with the shrink, to get rid of some of the frustration and
rage that accompanies grief this heavy. Whatever it was, it seemed to be
working.

We moved into our duplex. I kept my own room at first. The Doctor
convinced Rennie that was a good idea. But more and more, we are
"spending the night" in one or the other's room. Ren's a lot more
adventurous than I am. I think we've tried just about everything. Well
maybe not everything. Fisting seems a little too much to both of us. Or
putting live animals inside us. We both agreed that we didn't want to do
that.

But we love to kiss, fondle, tickle, oral and anal sex. We tried the
tying each other up thing. I think he liked it a little -- when he was
the dominator. I don't care for either, and he definitely doesn't like
being dominated. We just like treating each other as equals. Rennie likes
topping best, and that's good, because I LOVE the bottom! We both do
both, but that's our favorites. I think I like faux-ing better than
fucking. He is so short -- or rather I am so tall, we can't kiss while
we are fucking, but when I fuck his hand -- faux-ing, I can kiss him and
really get into it. And his hand has much better control than his butt!

I love it also when we are finished and we just lie there -- not even
cleaned up -- and feel each other's warmth. I guess that's my "female
side", because Ren doesn't get into it as much as I do. But he does it
just because I like it so much. I love that boy so much.

He still hasn't asked me again about marrying. I was sure he would when
we heard that even Seth and Luke had gotten married. But he didn't. I
didn't feel like I could ask him. I still felt somewhat like a beggar.

After we had been moved out of the big house about 3 months, Bobby took a
turn for the worse. I guess being all by himself in that big house got to
him. He went into a deep depression. Ren talked to the shrink and asked
if maybe we should invite him to come stay with us. Rennie was still
seeing the doctor too, so he had a good rapport with him. The shrink said
that if it would not disrupt our lives too much, he thought that would go
a long way toward helping Bobby.

I offered to move out of my place and into Rennie's, and give my room
and condo to Bobby. I was disappointed when Bobby said no. He would
rather just sleep on the couch. He said he felt he had imposed on our
life too much already. I would have insisted more, but Rennie wasn't
supporting me in it, so I didn't press it. Bobby slept on Rennie's
couch. It wasn't the living room. There was a bedroom opposite Ren's
room that Rennie made into a den. It had a hide-a-bed in it. He had
started doing his studying there.

One of the first things Rennie had done when we moved in, was he had a
fireproof door installed between the condos. It was always left unlocked.
One morning I woke up early. I felt uneasy about something -- a dream,
maybe, that I couldn't remember. Many times, Rennie had come into my bed
late in the night, when he was depressed -- or horny. I had never done
that.

I quietly opened the door between our places, and hearing nothing, I went
up to Ren's room. He wasn't there. I could hear Bobby breathing in his
room, and the door was slightly open, so I peeked in. The first thing I
saw was Rennies perfect swimmers butt. He was naked and on top of
Bobby's naked body. Something in side me seemed to die. I started to
close the door quietly, when something caught my eye. I opened the door
and slipped silently over to the bed. What caught my eye was a wash
cloth. It was obviously used to clean up after they -- did whatever they
did. I stifled and choked off a sob, and left as quietly as I could.

Back in my own bed, I started crying -- first into my pillow, then I
couldn't hold it back. I wailed. Through my cries I heard my door open.
I looked and through tear-blurred eyes there was Ren, standing nude in
front of me. I cracked.

I sprang up from my bed, and with more strength than I knew I had,
grabbed his arm and literally dragged him to the door between the places
and threw him into his place. I saw Bobby standing -- nude also -- in the
hallway. Over the pounding in my head, I heard, "Im sorry, I'm sorry, -
Lenny please, talk to me I - "

SLAM! I threw the door closed. I had enough money in my pocket to get a
cab to the Smith's. Etta seemed ready for me. Jake and Lindy told me I
could stay up in the guesthouse as long as I wanted. I went to school the
next morning. The Smith's lived not far from the University. As I was
walking from my advanced calc class to the library. He presented himself
in front of me. I thought he was about to offer another apology. I was
wrong. Well, at least partly.

"Lenny, I can't imagine how you must feel."

(WHAT?)

"I want you to know that I have no bad feeling toward you."

I stood there stunned. He has no bad feelings toward ME!!

"I know it must have been hard for you to see what you saw -- Bob and me
-- but to just up and leave like that -- was that fair?"

"Fair? FAIR, Rennie?"

"Yeah. We have been through a lot! The doctor told us we were justified
by our grief for what we were doing."

"Doing? You mean that wasn't the first time -- at least in the new
place?" I asked incredulously.

"Well, what did you expect?" he asked me, sounding defensive.

"Rennie -- that doctor of yours is full of shit! There IS no excuse for
what you did -- or rather what you have been doing! I've heard of
shrinks telling their patients that anything they do is not their fault.
That's crap. I don't buy it! Ren, I would have walked of a cliff for
you two months ago."

"Lenny?" he was sounding desperate. "Think of what you're leaving
behind! Your car, your place -- all of - "

"NO! No, Rennie, not mine! YOUR car and YOUR place. You made that very
clear to me several weeks ago. I had myself convinced that you were under
the influence of drugs - "

"I was!"

"And that's what made you say those things."

"It was, Lenny -- it WAS!"

"Ren, I'm sorry to point it out to you -- but you just did it again."

"What!!??"

"You just tried to BUY me with `my' stuff -- which never was mine!"

"It WAS! I let you choose which one you wanted!"

"You're pathetic!" I said.

"ME!!?? Why me!?"

"You're like a little girl playing house. It's all okay when things are
going your way. But when they don't you tell your little friend to go
home!"

"What are you talking about? I DID give that place and the car to you!"

"Are they in my name?"

"No, but - "

"Are you going to put them in my name?"

"Well, not if you don't come back!" He said. He just didn't get it

"Go home, spoiled little girl! I will be fine without your stuff!"

I clutched my books and ran in the other direction. He didn't try to
follow. I didn't stop running until I got up to my bedroom, over the
Smiths garage. I slammed down on the huge king sized bed, and cried and
cried for hours. I went to sleep and woke up early evening. I started to
cry all over. I truly don't know what I would have done if he had
actually apologized, and asked forgiveness again. All I knew was it was
over -- and my chest felt like it was going to split in two where my
heart was. Wailing, I fell asleep again.

I woke up to hands rubbing my back. I looked at the clock. It was 9:30
PM. I wondered if I had had a bad dream, but when I woke up a little
more, I saw I was in the Smith's guesthouse. I had a sheet over my fully
clothed body and Jacob Smith was rubbing my back. When I stirred. He gave
way. I half sat up. The room was darkly lit.

"How are you doing?" He said gently.

"I just want out. I wanna die. But I know that's not the way."

"You are right about that."

"Does it ever go away -- this sharp pain in my chest and abdomen?"

"The pain in your chest is your heart. It has been broken to be sure,
Lenny. Only time and maybe a new friend can ease that. The pain in your
stomach may be because you didn't eat dinner. Did you eat anything for
lunch?"

"No."

"Breakfast?"

I shook my head no. "I wasn't hungry."

He half lay on top of me -- not in any sexual way -- but to let me feel
his warmth and concern. "Maybe you could eat something now." When I
didn't answer, he gently pulled me up. "You need to eat, Lenny."

I wasn't in any shape to argue. He led me down the stairs and into the
kitchen. "No one else is around right now -- don't worry." He fixed me a
sandwich and a glass of milk. I stared at it for a time. Jake was siting
there watching me, with concerned eyes. I took a couple bites and then a
large swallow of milk. All of a sudden I had to run to the sink and lost
it all. I started crying again, snot and vomit coming out of my nose and
mouth.

I hit my head on the edge of the sink as I collapsed to the floor. I felt
large hands pick me up and carry me up to a bedroom and he laid me on the
bed. I knew he was undressing me, and even felt like I could help a
little, but I didn't care. It was some bit of comfort letting Uncle Jake
do this for me.

"How is he?" I heard a voice as if it was coming through a fog. "Is he --
sick?"

"He's sick all right. But mostly his heart is broken."

"HE not sick. He need love from his famly."

"His parents don't want any contact."

"His momma do. Mommas allus do."

I was only half conscious. When I heard Etta say that about my mom, I
started to cry. Next thing I knew, I was lying on Etta's lap, and she
was rocking me and stroking my head. I blinked and it was not Etta, it
was my mom. I felt such a surge of relief and -- love -- then in an
instant it was Etta again. But the good feeling remained. I let myself be
rocked in the arms of love. I closed my eyes.

"Oh, my baby boy!" I heard out of the fog. Then my eyes focused in on my
mom again. I knew it was Etta, but it felt good. "Oh, my poor baby, why
don't you wake up?"

Was it my mom? It WAS. I was not able to even respond. "There is a bump
on his head. What happened?" My mom asked.

I didn't hear the answer. "Oh, my sweet Leonard, do you even know who I
am?"

"Of course I do -- you're my mom!" I heard a voice outside me say. I
felt my head turn toward her voice and a small hole opened up in the fog,
and my mother's concerned face was at the other end. The fog seemed to
move outward until it was almost gone. Then it closed in again as if it
were the iris in a camera lens. Next thing I knew, I woke up and I was
being rocked again by Etta. I looked up at her.

"You momma loves you very much bean-boy."

"Where is she?"

"She coon't come."

"But she was here -- I saw her."

You daddy woon't let her come. But her love fo you be strong. She come
ina spirit when you needa her."

"How long - ?"

"Lass night you spirit went into you safe place after you tried to eat a
sammich."

"Oh. That seemed like a week ago."

"Oh no, Bay-bee, there be no time ina spirit world."

"I thought I heard R -- R -- Rennie."

"He come here too. But we sent away. Mista talk to him. He good boy --
not fo you."

I didn't want to believe her. I didn't believe he was a "good boy", and
I didn't want to believe that he was not for me! All I wanted was for
him to come back and rescue me. But I could not deny what she was telling
me -- it felt true -- it was true. My heart felt like any minute it would
stop altogether. I wanted it to. But the fog was gone and it was time for
me to get up and go to school. I took a long hot shower. I closed my eyes
and he was there beside me, looking cute and sexy with his strong
swimming legs. I opened my eyes and he was gone.

At school, everything seemed too bright. Like I needed sunglasses.
Everything was hard to look at. Whenever I closed my eyes for longer than
a blink, he was there, speaking words I couldn't hear, or just winking
at me. A girl I never noticed before asked if I was okay. I smiled shyly
and shrugged.

That night I had a ton of homework. I felt almost delirious from lack of
sleep. I crashed about 8:30 PM. I just laid down on the couch for a
moment. Soft knocking awakened me. I said, "Who is it?"

The door opened slightly, and Rennie stuck his head in the door. "Dude!
I've been calling you!"

"I've been here all night." I said, almost ecstatic to see him, but
afraid to show it.

"No dude! I mean in my dream. Can't you hear me?"

My hand slipped off the couch and hit the floor. I woke up. I looked at
the door. It was true. It was only a dream. I willed my self back to
sleep, but I could not. I got up and ate some ice cream, then read for
about an hour, did some calc problems and went to bed.

As soon as I was asleep, there he was again. I knew it was a dream this
time. "I wonder if he knows this is my dream?" I thought to myself.

"I know." He answered without opening his mouth. What do you want me to
do?" He asked.

Without saying or even thinking anything verbal, he got it. He came over
and laid down on top of me. I felt warm all over but couldn't feel his
weight. He kissed me, and I got all the feelings, but could not really
feel his lips. He smiled and then his mouth just kept opening bigger and
bigger, until a hideous looking monster came out of his mouth. I knew it
was a dream the whole time so I opened my eyes and stared into the
darkness. I saw him smiling at me from the darkness and cried. I wondered
if he was crying too.

I woke up to the song, ""Love me or Leave me". It was playing on an
oldies station that one of the other guys had on the radio. I at first
teared up, then smiled at the irony.

I lived one day at a time. And one night at a time. The Smiths were so
very sweet to me. I told Etta I was looking for a job, and that same day,
I got a visit from Uncle Jake. Yeah, I called him that now -- it seemed
more appropriate than before.

"I don't think you should get a job yet, Lenny." He told me. I didn't
take much convincing. "Just concentrate on your studies. We love having
you here. We really miss our other boys."

That same evening I went down to eat with them and when I came back up, I
was startled by a figure sitting in the darkness, in the corner of the
room.

"Hey, Len. Sorry to scare you."

"Bob -- by! What - - ?"

"Ren asked me to come by. He doesn't feel welcome here."

I turned on the light. "Hmm -- and you do, huh?" It was a cold thing to
say -- but it was how I felt.

"I guess I deserved that. I'm not asking for your forgiveness -- not now
-- I know that would be hard. But can you -- that is -- Rennie wanted me
to -- um - "

"Did Ren send you here -- really, Bobby?" I asked him and stared him
down.

"Uh -- well -- (sigh!) no."

"Then why did you com?"

"Lenny -- Neither of us is happy. And what we are doing -- seems --
somehow -- wrong."

"Why? What's to stop you?"

"Lenny -- he's my wife's brother!"

"Then stop." I said it simply. "Or did your shrink say that you should
explore this relationship"?

"He's a jerk!"

"I know."

"But I know if you came back, Ren would be glad."

My heart ached so much as I told Bobby, "No, Bobby. He would be glad --
and I would be glad. But it wouldn't work. You two are going to need to
somehow get over this -- and each other -- or accept that it's okay for
you to be together. My plans don't include him any more." My heart was
pounding so hard as I was calmly saying all that! And it ached more that
I knew was possible.

Bobby hung his head. "Well, I guess you know what's best for you." He
turned to leave.

"Bob?" He turned back. "It's best for you too." I walked to him. "Give
Ren this." I hugged him. He looked up into my eyes, which were so far,
dry. His were shiny.

"Damn, Lenny, I didn't know I could miss you so much!" And he kissed my
neck. I pushed him away just before he planted one on my lips.

"Bye, Bob."

He backed out the door, and then turned and went down the stairs. I took
the two steps to the window and watched as he got into "my" car and drove
out of the Smith's driveway. I turned and walked back to the couch. I
sat down. The pressure in my abdomen was unbelievable. Without much
prompting a huge wail came out of my throat, and I felt better. It was so
hard to stand there and tell him to go. And to tell him that Ren and me
were no more.

The next day, Tuesday, I saw that girl again who asked if I was okay.
"You look better." I wondered if she was lying. I didn't feel better.

"Thanks -- I guess."

"I'm Shelley."

"Nice to meetcha. I'm Leonard."

"Can I ask you something?"

"I guess."

"It's kind of personal -- and -- well, never mind."

"Oh, you can't get way with that! You've said too much now. You have to
ask me now!"

"No. No -- really -- it's none of my business!"

By now I had guessed what it was she wanted to know. But I wondered why
she was so curious about it. I had known for some time it was kind of
obvious.

"Why play games like this. You wouldn't have started this if you didn't
want to finish it. Just ask me and let me decide if it's too personal."

She really did look embarrassed and -- even repentant. "I -- now that I
am standing here talking to you -- I am embarrassed. I had no right. But
-- er -- are you -- um - "

I just smiled and let her stew for a moment.

"Do you like guys?"

I decided to play with her a bit. "Well, I guess. Well, I mean, as much
as the next guy. I mean every one is different. Some I like -- some I
don't. Do you?" I could tell she was near breaking point now, but she
started this.

"I mean -- do -- do you -- um -- like -- girls?"

"Are you trying to get me to ask you out? Because if you are, you're
going about it kind of weird. Yeah, I like girls -- but I won't be
asking you out." I leaned down very close and whispered, "I'm gay."

She was already pink. At this revelation, she turned scarlet. "I -- I'm
sorry -- I didn't mean -- I mean -- I feel so stupid!"

"Isn't that what you wanted to ask me?

"Yeah." She looked very chagrinned.

"Well, it's okay. I don't make it a priority to tell everyone, but yes
I am gay. May I ask you why you asked?"

"Well -- I don't know -- I know this guy, and - "

"I'm still hurting from my last relationship."

"I could tell. I just wanted to -- um - "

"Rescue me -- and your friend at the same time?"

"I guess. He's hurting too. He may not even be your type. But you could
at least be friends -- cry on each other's shoulders or something."

"Uh -- heh -- that's kind of a girl thing. Tell you what. If he wants to
meet, I guess I can at least say hi."

She brightened up. "What? Oh! Okay! I think you two might hit it off -- I
mean as friends -- you are both kind of -- um - "

" -- nerdy?"

"I wasn't going to say that. I was going to say -- intellectual. I think
he's bit older than you though."

"Which wouldn't be a problem -- if we were only friends -- right?"

"Right."

I gave her my number at the Smith's. She thanked me. I thanked her.

 

She called that same night. I could tell -- even through the phone --
that she was trying her best to not sound too excited. "Leonard, can you
meet us at Denny's tomorrow at noon?" I almost instinctively said no.
Noon on Wednesdays was when I used to meet Ren for lunch. With huge lump
in my throat I said, "Yeah -- I can do that."

I kept telling myself the next morning that this was nothing. This was
just a meeting -- maybe a new friend -- that's all. All the while I was
shaving extra carefully, and making sure every hair was in place. I
casually threw on my best plaid shirt and jeans -- the ones that were
slightly baggy and made me look even taller -- and skinnier -- I liked
that look. I picked out a pair of socks that perfectly matched the salmon
color in the plaid, and then the dark brown deck shoes Ren bought for me.

When I got to Denny's I saw them sitting at a table and headed that way.
She had made sure she was siting so I could see her -- so his back was
toward me. He had dark brown, very curly hair. As I got near, she smiled.

"Leonard!" She said. "you look gr -- er -- nice."

As she tried to remove her foot from her mouth, HE got up. I had to
consciously will my mouth to stay shut! He smiled slightly, and said,
"Hi, I'm DeVon."

His voice was a deep and mellow baritone. Now I knew why she wanted to
introduce us. He was at least an inch taller than I. He was also at least
part black. He had the most full, sexy looking lips! His skin was dark
brown -- more like a well tanned surfer. His big round eyes (light blue)
sparkled as he waited for me to say something.

"Hello. I'm Leonard -- er -- Lenny." I thrust my hand up and out toward
him clumsily. He surrounded it with a very warm, firm right hand. He
looked straight into my soul.

"Nice to meet you. Please -- sit." I noticed a long scar on his left
cheek.

I looked from one to the other, wondering if I should sit next to Shelley
-- or DeVon. Shelley got up. "Well, I have a class -- and I expect you
guys have a lot of guy-talk anyway, so -- see you later."

We both watched he walk out the door. DeVon looked back to me. "She
doesn't have too much finesse, huh?" I laughed. "I've never known
anyone actually named Leonard. The only Leonard I even know of - - -"

" - - played Spock on Star trek?"

He smiled widely. "Yeah! So, now that I've made a fool of myself --
ridiculing your name - "

"Well, your name's not exactly one you hear every day. How do you spell
it?"

"D-e-V-o-n."

"Sounds like Deh'-vun to me."

"That was my dad's name. My mom capitalized the "v" making it Dee
Von'."

"Okay, now that we've picked each other's names apart, how do you know
Shelley?"

"She didn't tell you? She's such a nerd! She's my cousin."

"She is?" I said a little too incredulously.

"Yeah. Our dad's were brothers."

"You keep referring to your dad in the past tense."

"Yeah. He's dead."

"Oh God, man I'm so sorry!"

"It's nothing. He died in childbirth. I never knew him." He said with a
perfectly straight face. I looked at him as if he were crazy, and tilted
my head. He started laughing. "Sorry! I love doing that to people! He
died soon after I was conceived -- a freak helicopter accident --
national guard. My mom wanted to name me after him but DeVon fit in
better in the black community."

"Oh." I tried to think of something intelligent to say. I couldn't.

"Trouble was -- I didn't."

"Huh?"

"Fit in. My name was not all that unusual down in west Los Angeles. But a
gay, not-quite-black guy didn't! It seemed everyone hated me. I wasn't
black enough for the blacks -- and not white enough for the whites. They
were so polarized anyway -- against each other. I was just this ugly
in-between kid."

"GOD! But you're beautiful! They surely could see that!"

No, I didn't say that. But I was thinking it! I was still dumb-struck.

"You're kind of quiet, aren't you?" He said. "Well, I'm probably
blowing you away with my life story. Sorry. Where are you from?"

"Right here. My parents were -- well, obviously -- star Trek fans. My
middle name is Kirk!"

"Hahahaha! You're kidding me now -- aren't you?"

"Nope! My dad was a serious Trekkie. And my mom went along with it. She
goes along with almost anything my dad does!"

"Wow! That sounded bitter. What's up Bub?"

"I'm the only boy -- only child -- they -- HE -- and that means they --
have disowned me."

"For being gay?"

"Yeah."

"I sometimes wonder what my dad would have thought. My mom says he would
have been cool with it."

"So she knows."

"Oh yeah. She moved us up here after I got this." He pointed to his scar.
"It was in the 4th grade. A big fifth grader -- black -- got me in the
schoolyard with his switchblade.

"But how -- wasn't that against school rules?"

"Haha! Trying to kill another student? Yeah they frowned on that."

"NO! I mean to have a knife at school."

"There were no metal detectors then. He was expelled, and sent to
juvenile hall. An stinkin' ACLU attorney had him back in school a week
later. We moved the week after that. Luckily my mom worked for the state
and they relocated her here."

"How -- I mean -- when did you know you were -- gay?"

"Heh. In the fourth grade. That's why he slashed me. His older brother
-- eighth grade -- and four others had already cornered me in the
bathroom and raped me. I never told my mom about that -- or anyone else
-- at the time?"

"My GOD! Why not.?"

"I was ashamed."

"YOU were ashamed!!??"

"Yeah -- well, I was only nine. But even at nine I knew that a guy
wasn't supposed to LIKE that."

"You what??!!"

"I was humiliated, but I liked it! Those big eighth graders and their big
tools -- I worshiped them when they weren't looking. This kid's older
brother was the only one to notice that I liked it. He decided he liked
using me -- so he made me his bitch. Secretly, of course -- he protected
me from the other guys -- as long as I let him fuck me. But he couldn't
protect me from his own little brother. His brother got jealous because
the older guy treated me better than him. That's why he slashed me."

"Wow! That's quite a story. You should write it down!"

"I don't have to -- my friend Steve is writing it for me."

"Oh."

"May I take your order?" the waiter asked.

Quickly, I said, "Just a coke for me. I already ate."

"You came to meet at noon, at Denny's and you already ate? C'mon! You
look famished! I've saw the way you eyed that chicken fried steak that
just passed! I'll have the sampler, and my friend will have the chicken
fried steak. And I want to check."

"Thanks." I said. I was embarrassed. He saw right through my excuses, and
knew I couldn't afford to eat out. I got quiet after that.

"I -- hope I haven't offended you." He said after we finished.

"Well, maybe not offended. Embarrassed would be a better word. My parents
kicked me out, so I'm not exactly flush with cash."

"You're not -- erm -- homeless - - - are you?"

"No. A very kind family has taken me in."

"Oh. And they don't have the means to give you some pocket money -- Wow!
Isn't that just typical? Barely enough to sustain themselves, and they
take in someone in need."

"Uh -- it's not QUITE like that. I think they just don't want to insult
me. I eat most all my meals in the big house!"

"In the what?" He sounded incredulous.

"Oh! I live in a flat above their garage. Three bedrooms! I'm the only
one there. Used to be three couples living up there."

"Oh! Heh! I took that completely another way. Guess it was going back to
my own roots."

"Huh?"

"My great-grandfather died a few years back. He used to talk about how
his mother was allowed to eat in the big house kitchen -- if she was a
good slave. You know, did what she was told. Didn't try to learn to read
or write. Cooked the massa's meals and cleaned up after them hand and
foot. That kind of stuff."

I was still kind of speechless. I never could imagine how a human being
could treat other human beings like animals. As I was thinking about
that, he said, "Um -- I haven't insulted you, have I?"

"Hm? Oh! NO! Not at all. I'm sorry. I was kind of out in space there for
a moment."

"Heh -- like Spock, huh?"

I smiled at that. "Sort of. Sometimes I'm a bit of a deep thinker, I
guess."

"Lenny, do you think you'd be interested in seeing me again?"

"I -- well -- its kinda soon. I don't know if - "

"Yeah, Shelley told me you were recently hurt. Me too. But I mean just as
friends. Buds. I sure could use someone to talk to -- maybe commiserate
with."

"I -- I guess that'd be okay."

"There's a par -- er get-together of a bunch of guys on Friday night.
Why don't I pick you up and we can go -- as friends. Who knows? Maybe
there will be someone there who will sweep one of us off our feet!"

"I -- yeah! That sounds good. Where is it?

"A friend of mine has a beach house. I'll pick you up at 7:00. That's
early for the party -- I mean get-together -- but I thought we'd get a
bite to eat first."

"My treat this time!"

"N --nooo -- You can treat next time. I don't invite someone out and
then make them pay."

"Well -- okay, I guess I will let you insult me one more time." I smiled.
I hope he took it as a joke.

"Okaaaay -- soooo -- where do I pick you up -- oh! Did you drive here?"

I was embarrassed again. "No. It's not very far to walk."

"I'll take you home. That way, I'll know where you live - - okay?"

"Okay."

We finished up our lunch and I was embarrassed once more. Not even enough
to leave the tip! I mean when someone takes you out to dinner it's the
least you can do! When we got to the Smith's, he said, "Wow! You live
here? I have noticed this home before. Mind if I come in -- see where you
stay?"

I was nervous about that but I said okay. He seemed nice enough, and --
well, I don't know Shelley that well, but I trust her that he's a nice
guy. "Uh -- okay - Sure!"

We stepped in the front door. "Interesting setup."

"The Smith's son had it built to his specifications." I said, then, "You
should see the showers!" Then I realized the implication of what I said.
"Er -- I mean -- well, come look! It's quite different for a flat."

I led him through my bedroom to the showers. "Wow! Like a gymnasium
shower. Interesting."

"Yeah. And each bedroom has its own toilet/commode room. This one is the
only one with a tub, though."

"Kewl! A soaking tub for two! Nice touch. Is that your Entertainment
center?"

"Naw -- it came with the flat."

"These Smith's -- are they -- I mean -- there was a guy who graduated
high school a couple years after me -- great athlete -- Jake Smith."

"That's their son!"

"Do you know him?"

"I've met him. Crazy guy." I said. "He and his partner, Colin, have 2
children, and live in Vermont, now."

"WHAT?? Jake the Jock (that was his nickname) was gay??"

"Duh!"

"But you don't get it. He was such a jock. He ran around with the jocks!
If they ever knew he was gay - "

"They probably didn't. Anyway, that's the place. Thanks for running me
home."

"Uh -- no problem. Well, I guess you have stuff to do for the rest of the
day?"

"Yeah -- a ton of research!"

"Okay -- then I guess I better go. See you Friday at 7:00, then."

I walked him to the door. He reached his hand out and grasped mine. I
glad that we - "

Our eyes met and he stopped mid-sentence. After a long moment, I said,
"Yeah. Me too. Uh - "

He pulled me in and kissed me lightly on the lips. I totally melted into
his arms. It felt so right! We kissed deep. I felt his whole body
touching mine, warming and tingling.

He stepped back. We both sighed deeply. He pointed at me and winked
slightly. "Just friends!"

"Just friends!"

Note: Really? Just friends? A nice way to start a friendship, as I see
it! Comments are welcome! Please put "Lenny" on the subject line and sent
to Steve at s4d@hotmail.com. Thanks and love, Steve


Bottom line: Love will Rule in the end.